McLean 2nd ward

  

 About 3 months ago I wrote a blog post about my wonderful Companion Sister Richards, she was such a tender mercy to me and was leaving the McLean 2nd ward where we served together. Now it is my turn to go.

I have LOVED being in this incredible ward and meeting so many new and wonderful people. I have learned and grown so much in the past 6 months. The true Christian love that I have seen exhibited through all the love and care has made me realize more than I ever have before how much of a tender mercy the community we have in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints really is.

As my companions and I have visited different members homes we have heard of countless examples of how other members have ministered to them. A while ago there was a blog post done by Robyn. A neighbor had left a note on her car that was just what she needed at the time. This is just one example among many. Countless meals have been given, testimonies have been shared, and spirits lifted and strengthened. Visiting Teachers and Home teachers have been there to serve those they visit. This congregation is truly what we call a 'ward family'.

In 3 Nephi 18 The Savior, in his visit to the Americas, teaches about the importance of church -- namely taking the sacrament-- but he also speaks of something else, how we need to pray for each other and help each other build our lives on his Rock, the rock of our redemption. That is really what church and the church community is all about, helping each other to build on the Rock of Christ so that we may all withstand Satan and his deceptions.

I am so grateful for the wonderful example I have seen in this ward of doing just this, of Building, nurturing, and strengthening each other. Sometimes it has been hard to be serving a mission in this ward, not because the missionary work itself is hard, but because I just wanted to be a normal member of the ward. I have loved teaching, and especially learning from each person I have met here!

THANK YOU!

Because of Him

 

We have been showing this Video to a lot of people recently which has made me reflect more and more on what I can do because of him.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." --John 3:16

I am so grateful for Christ and for All that he allows me to do. I know that it is because of Him that I am a missionary.

It is Because of Him that I can Drive in Virginia

It is Because of Him that I can be clean from all of my sins


It is Because of Him that I can be with my Family Forever

 

It is Because of Him that I can love all the wonderful people I meet.

I know that Because of Him All things are possible.

Have a Happy Easter!

From Fiery to Flowery

Once upon a time, Sister Hill and I were out visiting a few people. As we were walking we were playing a game we like to play, called 'relate that random thing to the gospel!' It is a fun game...it is always an interesting experience to try to relate things like crunched up leaves and abandoned tires to the gospel. This time the challenge was fallen blossoms from a tree.

I decided that they looked a little bit like darts. Having just listened to Elder Andersen's talk from conference about how we can protect ourselves from Satan and the weapons he uses, comparing it to a 'flowery' dart of the adversary made PERFECT sense to me! Yes, in case you can't tell there are probably still a few walls in my mind that need a little fixing, but let me explain a little bit more.

In 1 Nephi 15:24 it talks about how to overcome the fiery darts of the adversary. The way to turn the 'fiery darts' into 'flowery darts' of the adversary is through the word of God. In Alma 31:5 it talks about how we need to try the virtue of the Word of God. There really is a great power that comes into our lives as we do just that. As we make reading/listening/acting on the word of God more of a priority in our lives, we allow the tender mercies of the Lord to come into lives in ways that we don't even realize will happen as we start.

I am grateful for every source of the word of God that is available to us through the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and from living prophets. I have many experiences where this has happened in my life. What are some of your experiences? Feel free to comment and share...remember Sharing is caring!



 



What Greater Goodness?

During my junior high and high school French classes, we watched a lot of movies. What do movies in a French class have to do with tender mercies? Well, among all the Disney in French with English subtitles and the Les Miserable and Phantom of the Opera, there was one movie that really touched me. This movie took place during WWII at Christmas time. It was one of the many stories of the unofficial armistice on Christmas. That night the soldiers from across enemy lines made friends and the next day when the artillery was going to bomb them . . . or whatever it is artillery does . . . they warned their new friends and kept them safe for at least a short time.

Now as you can tell, I don't know much about war, but I do know a lot about friendship! I wrote a little while ago about family, I love my family! I think they are the best and I wouldn't trade them for a mountain of gold, but I am also incredibly grateful for my wonderful Friends.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding on the part of some men today as to what it means to be a friend. Acts of a friend should result in self-improvement, better attitudes, self-reliance, comfort, consolation, self-respect, and better welfare. Certainly the word friend is misused if it is identified with a person who contributes to our delinquency, misery, and heartaches. When we make a man feel he is wanted, his whole attitude changes. Our friendship will be recognizable if our actions and attitudes result in improvement and independence." - Marvin J. Ashton

I have a friend who has had a great impact on my life. She is a tender mercy, well, she is more of an angel. . . God sent her to me in 8th grade and she has been a HUGE part of my life. I know that I would not be where I am. I would not be a missionary right now without her influence in my life. The friends that we make should be the kind that will make us better, who will improve us and who will inspire us to develop the friendship that should be first in our life. The friendship of Jesus Christ.

2 of my wonderful Christlike friends

Kathleen H. Hughes (former Relief Society general president) in her talk What Greater Goodness Can We Know: Christlike Friends, says,

"It should be obvious to each of us that our ultimate friendship should be with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The Savior has affectionately said to us, “I will call you friends, for you are my friends” (D&C 93:45). His greatest desire for us, His brothers and sisters, is to bring us back to our Father. And the way for us is clear: develop in our lives, to the degree that we can, the qualities and attributes of Christ. Obey His commandments and do His work and His will."

As we develop our friendship with Christ, we will start to see His influence make us better. As we become better we become an example for our friends. I invite you to think about ways you can be a christlike friend to somebody else this week, and if you can't think of anything, remember . . . General Conference is this weekend, answers ALWAYS come when you listen!

P.S. I wouldn't trade my friends for a mountain of gold either...in case you were wondering :)